page revision date : 30th June 2010
George has the get up and go to succeed
George Wilkins is rightly earning a name for himself as a talented young leg-spin bowler who is a regular in the county team for his age group and also plays cricket for Cresselly thirds as he sets out on the road to being a very good all-round sportsman, since he can also play football and rugby to a high standard.
George is the son of Steve Wilkins, who played his cricket for Pembroke Dock and St Florence, as well as for Winsford CC when his work took him to Cheshire, and it was there that George set out in the summer sport as a nine year old trying to develop his leg-spin bowling, as well as being a useful batsman.
Freddie gives him his broken bat –
and signs it!
His cricketing claim to fame as a seven year old came when dad took him to a match where England took on South Africa at Old Trafford and Andrew Flintoff broke his bat with some big hits. George lined up with a host of other youngsters for the England star’s autograph and when he said “Thanks, Mr Flintoff” the cricketing legend not only presented a thrilled George with his cracked bat – but also autographed it as a huge bonus!
When the family returned to Pembrokeshire a few years ago, George was soon in action as he claimed 4 for 8 for the county’s junior team, coached by Narberth’s Richard Howell, against West Glamorgan, and also had a few games alongside dad in the St Florence senior side, where he grabbed 6 for 21 against Whitland in a league match.
County regular
George has been in the county set-up ever since and currently plays for the under 14 team looked after by Chris Campbell (Burton) and Ian Carter (Llechryd), with a top score of 47. He went on the under 14’s ten-day tour to Barbados and was delighted to come back with the ‘best bowler’ award for his accurate spells in two of the three matches they played. He also added an innings of 41 for the county team this season but the next evening was at Cresselly Cricket Club nets, where he was being coached by Richard Harris, and a ball hit him on the arm and prevented him from playing for a while. He plays for Cresselly Juniors and has also played in the third XI, where he is well looked after by Steve Davies.
Amazing escape!
He regularly played for Pembroke Dock Quins at outside half but has now switched to Tenby United because he attends Greenhill School, where he has scored four tries in one match, and is coached there by Mr Oliver. George hit the headlines at Bierspool, alongside Jake Griffiths, the son of former Quins’ player Jason, when they went to Malta with the Quins’ junior section – and a malfunction in the rear door saw them both fall out of the bus and onto the road. George was amazingly lucky because he was also run over by a car behind but escaped with a broken arm and badly skinned back, whilst Jake landed on George but still had a damaged hand and skinned back. George’s dad Keith was on the bus and still says that he thought the worst for a few moments after the accident!
Football matters
George also plays football for Tenby as a busy central midfielder under the watchful eye of coach Angie Nicholls, and for the county under 14 team that is coached by Matthew Price, the player/manager of Merlins Bridge. He started out at the very early age of six at Winsford Diamonds, back in Cheshire, and when he was playing in one match he scored five goals before being subbed by the coach, who happened to be dad and who was giving him £5 a goal!
In this county he first played for Carew juniors and managed to score four goals in one match, plus two for the county against Aberystwyth at the Bridge Meadow Stadium in Haverfordwest. If you could wave a magic wand for George when he is older then he would love to be a professional footballer with Everton, which just happens to be the favourite team of both Wilkins junior and senior. They have visited Goodison Park on a number of occasions after a first trip there with dad when he was only four years old!
And finally . . .
In the meanwhile, George is happy to be involved in all three sports in this county and there is no doubt that he could go far in all three games – but at one stage might have to make choices. But whichever he opts for he will play it to the best of his ability because PembrokeshireSport.co uk is confident that he will remain as a pleasant, modest and likeable young man who is a credit to his family and the clubs he plays for!
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